Photokeratoconjunctivitis caused by different light sources

To assess the current state of photokeratoconjunctivitis (PKC) and compare patients caused by different light sources, we recruited 106 consecutive cases from August 2001 to March 2002 through the emergency department at a teaching hospital in Taiwan and conducted questionnaire interviews and telephone follow-ups. Whereas 85.8% of the cases received exposures from welding, only 3.8% were professional welders, and most cases were of other occupations with occasional use of welding. A substantial number of cases were attributable to ultraviolet (UV) lamps and sparkles from short circuits (7 each). Cases caused by different light sources (welding, UV lamps, and spackles) had significant differences in occupations, exposure durations, and distances to light sources. In comparison with cases caused by welding, cases caused by short circuit sparkles had a more acute course, but those caused by UV lamps had a less acute course. Few cases used protection equipment, which highlighted the importance of education.